[08/07/08 - 03:22 PM]A&E Network and Dell Launch New Lifestyle Series We Mean BusinessThe series, due on September 6, features Bill Rancic, Katie Linendoll and Peter Gurski as they "lend their business savvy to a struggling entrepreneur in dire need of a quick turn-around."

[via press release from A&E]

A&E NETWORK AND DELL LAUNCH NEW LIFESTYLE SERIES WE MEAN BUSINESS

SET TO PREMIERE SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2008, 10AM ET

DELL SPONSORS SHOW WITH MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMMITMENT

New York, NY August 7, 2008 � A&E Network and Dell are helping make dreams become reality for small-business owners in the new half-hour lifestyle series WE MEAN BUSINESS. Debuting Saturday, September 6th at 10am ET & PT during the weekend lifestyle block, WE MEAN BUSINESS grapples with the impending doom of businesses in jeopardy by showing owners how to reduce expenses, increase profits, redesign their space, implement new technologies and more.

It's the American Dream: starting a successful business, being your own boss and, of course, making lots of money. But for many small-business owners, that dream has turned into a nightmare, with the potential of their doors closing for good.

In WE MEAN BUSINESS, a trio of hard charging experts lend their business savvy to a struggling entrepreneur in dire need of a quick turn-around. Business Guru Bill Rancic, Tech Wiz Katie Linendoll, and Master Designer du jour Peter Gurski battle tears, tantrums and meltdowns as they strive to turn a labor of love into a profitable enterprise.

In the premiere episode of A&E's new series, WE MEAN BUSINESS: BERRY ELEGANCE, dysfunctional owners Amy and Todd have been running their chocolate-dipped berry business into the ground. The employees dislike Todd's management style, Amy isn't putting in enough hours at the store and their partnership is sinking. Nobody in the neighborhood knows the store exists and the complacent owners haven't been doing anything to fix this problem.

On its worst days, the store takes in less than ten dollars, and the very process of ringing up a customer is painfully slow and inefficient. When the WE MEAN BUSINESS team intervenes, both Todd and Amy are faced with making serious sacrifices to avoid declaring bankruptcy. As they botch the opportunities Bill presents them, everyone wonders if the business can really be turned around or if the situation is beyond repair.

Growing from a small business started in 1984 from Michael Dell's University of Texas dorm room to the supplier of PCs to millions of small and medium businesses, Dell is the exclusive technology sponsor of WE MEAN BUSINESS. Dell technology � ranging from laptops to servers to point-of-sale retail solutions - will be featured in each episode as part of Katie's efforts to develop and implement IT strategies that help the companies grow and better serve their customers

In support of the show's launch, both A&E and Dell will offer WE MEAN BUSINESS content online. Viewers can go to www.aetv.com and www.dellmeansbusiness.com to access episode descriptions and highlights, meet the WE MEAN BUSINESS team, and peruse a behind the scenes photo gallery. They'll also find follow-ups on each of the WE MEAN BUSINESS owners to see how they're faring after their make-over, learn more about the featured technology solutions, and be able to join the conversation via forums, blogs and Dell's Small Business 360 website.

Bill Rancic, the original "Apprentice" is a true American entrepreneur. At the age of 23, he founded the internet-based company, Cigars Around the World, in a 400 sq. ft. studio apartment. Today, Bill sits on the board of directors of a thriving multi-million dollar national operation. Bill motivates and inspires entrepreneurs, sales teams, business professionals and students around the world. He's also a New York Times best selling-author of two books on business and appears regularly as a financial expert on numerous television shows.

Katie Linendoll can presently be seen on HSN Network doling out her special brand of tech wisdom as the guest gadget host and expert. While earning her BS in IT New Media from the Rochester Institute of Technology, she launched an on-air career hosting and reporting for SportsZone, a magazine-style show airing on ESPN2. She went on to work behind the scenes at ESPN, where she won an Emmy Award as an Associate Producer for SportsCenter.

Peter Gurski has been seen designing for the masses on HGTV's "Designing for the Sexes and "Designer's Challenge." He also appeared as Co-host and designer on the Discovery Network show "Surprise by Design." When not busy in front of the camera Peter can be found designing the digs of celeb clientele like Eric McCormack, Jack Black, and Laura Kightlinger.

Robert Sharenow and Andy Berg are the executive producers for A&E Network. WE MEAN BUSINESS is produced for A&E Network by GRB Entertainment. Gary Benz, Michael Branton and Tammy Wood are executive producers. Keren Markuze is supervising producer.

About A&E

A&E is "Real Life. Drama." Now reaching more than 96 million homes, A&E is television that you can't turn away from; where real life shows are dramatic and scripted dramas are authentic. A&E offers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment; ranging from the network's signature Real-Life Series franchise, including the hit series "Intervention," "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," "Paranormal State" and "Criss Angel Mindfreak," to the most successful justice shows on cable, including "The First 48" and "Crime 360" and original scripted series including "The Cleaner" starring Benjamin Bratt. A&E is also the official basic cable home to the high-profile series "The Sopranos," "CSI: Miami" and "Criminal Minds." The A&E website is located at www.aetv.com. For more press information and photography please visit us on the web at www.aetvpress.com.

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its direct business model, Dell is a leading global systems and services company and No. 34 on the Fortune 500. For more information, visit www.dell.com, or to communicate directly with Dell via a variety of online channels, go to www.dell.com/conversations. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.com/RSS.